Electbical typewriting machine



Nov. 29, 1932. E. H. HENDERSON ELECTRICAL TYPEWRI TING MACHINE g 9 w 0 7 n. 3 2 v q 54 WI. 9 x v in M A r M 5 i R e ,M w W %W 67 ..7 \\M, k Q 0 0 7i 1 0 9 W 7 a 7 7 9 J 04314 676 RM. Jz. 45; mw NE 1 em WM 6v 9 m w 2 0 0 a A 6 13 HU o K E 71 a lo o M z\ LOLO Q j e f; i M w 7 j .J v w 1. 0 k g 4 j 6 m7 v5.7 fiw Z N Nov. 29, 1932. H R Q 1,889,315

ELECTRICAL TYPEWRITING IACHINE Filed Sept. 18. 1929 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR IN EL/A 5.1 HENDERSON.

ATTO R N E( Nov. 29-, 1932. HENDERSON 1,889,315

ELECTRICAL TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOE' EL/A5.-H.HENDEE50N.

BY MW ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1932. HENDERSON 1,889,315

ELECTRICAL TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 16 197 E I l VENTOE' Y g 196 fL /nsfifls/yaiesan/ 19W 1 BY 'ATTOEN r Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES ELIAS H. HENDERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ELECTRICAL TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application iiled September 18, 1829. Serial No. 398,885.

more, by my construction I provide a plurality of pairs of type on each type plate and employ electrically actuated mechanism for selecting a particular pairxof type to do the printing at any time. n addition, I provide electrical actuating mechanism for efi'ecti'ng" the several. operations which are necessary in connection with a typewriting machine, for example, spacing, tabulating, shifting the carriage, back spacing, and returning the carriage at the end of a printed line and line spacing, all of these actuating mechanisms construction, carrylng ribbon reels and mk being selectively controlled by a keyboard having keys preferably in the arrangement of the standard typewriterkeyboard, which keys selectively operate electric contacts closing corresponding circuits to correspondingly operate the various electrical operating mechanisms of the machine. In addition, I provide a repeat. key by the depression of which the machine will print or operate repeatedly in a manner depending upon-which of several of the other keys may be depressed at the same time. By my invention I also provide an improved form of escapement mechanism, an improved form of solenoid construction adapted to the'purpose under consideration, and an improved ribbon arrangement for ink printing a plurality of copies at the same time without the use of carbon paper.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in

which F ig. 1 shows my machine in plan view,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale. of the parts shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-42.

Fig. 3 shows in rear elevation to an en- Iaig'ed' scale, the devices employed t0 efiect the carriage return at,the end of each printed line or otherwise, and also the automatic switching mechanism for effecting repeated operation of a desired part of the machine, Fig. 4 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of the construction shown in F ii 2, taken along the line 4-4,

ig.- 5 is asectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 taken along the line 5-5, Fig. 6 shows in a view similar to Fig. 1, the devices employed to control the selective movement of the type plates, to print from a 'desired one of the type on' an operated late,

the type plates and printing solenoids removed in this figure Fig. 7 shows in longitudinal sectional view ing to an enlarged scale, one of the printing sole noids used to operate the type plates,

Fig. 8 is an end view of the construction shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 shows in plan view a form of platen ribbons, for making a multiple number of copies at'the' same time and without the use of carbon paper, g

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the parts shpiwn in Fig; 9, taken along the line 1010, an

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic circuit drawing of the electrical connections employed in my machine. V a Y Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, my machine consists of a base 10 having a raised shelf 11, carrying solenoids 12, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, provided with cores 13 of magnetic material, from which operating rods 14 of non-magnetic material extend upwardly. through guides in the shelf 11 to hold a frame 15 in position, or move it upwardly to shift the carriage of the machine when it is desired, for example, to write capital letters instead of small letters. The frame 15 carries a. plurality of guide rollers16 supporting a carriage 17, which in turn supports the platen 18 in printing position, on a shaft .19.

The carriage 17 has secured thereto back of the frame 15, a downwardly'extending wardly projecting rack 21 engaging a gear wheel 22-carried by a vertical shaft 23, mounted to rotate in suitable bearings carried by the shelf 11. The shaft 23 has connected thereto, one end of a spiral spring 24, the other end of which is secured to a spring housing 25 containing said spring and rigidly secured to the shelf 11,saidspringbeing under sufficient ten- I sion to hove the carriage 17 during the opera tion of the machine. The lower end ofthe shaft 23 enters a sleeve 26 with a sliding fit, said sleeve having slots 27 through its upper,

end to receive a pm 28 extending through and secured to the shaft-23, so that the sleeve 26f v may move vertically on the shaft 23 but be incapable of rotation ofsaid shaft. The upper movement of the gear22 bythe operation 'of the machine, in a manner to be described.

Thesleeve 26 has secured, to its lower end, a" rod 30 of non-magnetic material, extending part way through a first solenoid 31, and there connected with a core 32 of magnetic material, which core extends beyond the lower end of the solenoid 31and into the upper end of a second solenoid 33, the lower end of said core having connected thereto, a rod of non-magnetic material extending to the lower end of the solenoid 33. The solenoids 31 and 33 are supported in the position indicated, by a bracket 35 extending upwardly from the base 10. As a result, energization of thesolenoid 31 raises the core 32, and therefore also raises the escape wheel 29 to effect step-by-step movement of the carriage 17,

whereas energization of the solenoid 33 moves the core 32 downwardly and thus moves the escape wheel 29 from engagement with its retaining devices to permit tabulation.

The carriage 17 has secured to it back of the plate 20, a notched bar 36, the notches of which are arranged: to receive tabulating stops 37 projecting below the lower part of the bar. The frame 15 has extending rear wardly therefrom a bracket 38 to which a lever 39 is pivotally connected at 40, one end ofsaid lever being connected with a stop 41 extending through and supported by the bracket 38, below the plane of the lower ends of the tabulating stops 37. The other end of the lever- 39 is connected with one end of a rod 42, the other-end of which is connectof the carriage 17 under the action of the rtogsupport at their upper ends, a conically shaped plate 48 on which the printing solenoids 49 are mounted. As more clearly shown in Fig.1, the solenoids 49 are so mounted that their axes converge and meet .in. a vertical line through the printing point on'the platen'ls; as a result of which, the

'typepl'ates 50, pivotally connected with bars end of the sleeve 26 has rigidly secur'edto it;-- an escape wheel 29 for effecting step-'by-step are of magnetic material.

As illustrated for the type plate 50 shown in Fig. 2, each of the type'plates is pivotally connected at 53 with a corresponding bar 51, the bar 51being extended beyondthe pivotal connection to engage one .end of a spring 54, the other end of which isv secured to the type plate 50.as indicated at 55. The spring 54 tends to move the, type plate 50 arpund to the left as SlIOWHlIl Fig. 2, on its pivotal'support 53, movement of the'type plate in that direction being limited .by a lug 56 carried by the type plate and extending over the edge of the bar 51. The axes of the solenoids 49 incline upwardly towards the printing position, at an angle that'will insure themeturn of the cores 52, the bars 51 and the typeplates 50 to their normal position by gravity.

The lower edge of each type. plate 50 isi provided with .a notch 57 for engagement selectively with the edges of the conically shaped. plates 58, 59 and 60. The plate 60 is rigidly supported by brackets 61 from the plate 48, in such a position that if the notch 57 does not engage the upper edges of the plates 58 and'59, it will engage the upper edgeof the plate 60. The plate 58 is supported by two arms 62, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, said arms in turn being pivotally supported by the plate 48 as indicated at 63. The arms 62 are connected with rods 64 of non-magnetic material, extend,- ing -part way through solenoids 65 and connected with the-cores 66 of said solenoids, which cores are of magnetic material and extend beyondthe lower ends of the solenoids so thattheir energization will raise the cores into the solenoids. The solenoids 65 are supported from the brackets 47 as indicated. A pin'67 extending from each of the brackets 61, limits upward movement of each of the arms 62, so that when the solenoids 65 are energized the upper edge of the plate 58 will be in proper position to be engaged by any of the notches 57. The

plate 59 is supported by two arms 68, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, in a manner similar to that described for the plate 58, and

that its upper edge is in the path of any of the notches 57, this upward movement be ing limited by the other ends of the pins 67. When the notch 57 of an actuated type plate enga es the plate 60, one of the two type 72 is effective in printing a corresponding character; when the notch 57 engages the plate 59, one of the two type 7 3 is effective in printing a corresponding character; and when the notch 57 engages the plate 58, one ofthe two type 74 is effective in printing a corresponding character; the one of the two type 'so selected, which is effective in printing the desired character in any case, is determined by whether the carriage 17 is in its shifted or upper position, or its normal or lower position. In this manner, each of the type plates 50, is capable of printing three diiferent'characters by the selective engagement of its notch 57 with the plates 58, 59 and 60, and for each of these three positions of the type plate, either of two characters may be printed depending upon whether the carriage is in its lower or upper position, thus making a total of six characters that may be printed by means of a single type late and therefore by the energization o a single one of the solenoids 49, for the illustrative construction shown in the drawings. I

The turning movement of each type -plate in printing each character, results in print-- ing the character by a pressure action instead of by direct impact, the printing pressure being produced by the printing solenoid 49 then energized, and controlled by the recuredto the rod above and below the frame" active pressure upon the actuate type plate, of the one of the plates 58, 59 and 60 involved in printing the character. This insures much more quiet action of the machine than if the printin were by direct impact.

A rib on guide is supported immediate- 1y below the printing position on the platen 18, to lead aninked ribbon 76 from one to the other of the ribbon reels 77, in a manner usual in typewriting machines. Since the operating mechanism for the ribbon reels may be of any well known type, and constitutes no part of the present invention, it is not shown. The ribbon guide 75 is supported in the position indicated, by'a rod 78 extending through a guideway therefor carried by the frame 15, collars 79 and 80 being se- 15 to limit its downward and upward niovement, the collar 80 being so positioned that when the rod 78 is raised as far as the collar 80' will permit, the ribbon is in proper position to print a selected character. The rod 78, which is of non-magnetic material, is extended below the collar 80 into-a solenoid 81 where it is connected with thesolenoid core 82 of magnetic material, said solenoid being supported by a bracket 83 extending between the brackets 47. The core 82 is so proportioned that whether the frame 15 is in its lower or its upper position, energization of the solenoid 8,1 wil1 move the rod 78 upwardly until the collar 80 is in engagement with the frame 15, and thus will move the ribbon to its printing position for either the lower or the upper position of theframe 15.

As shown in Fig. 2, the gear 22 has sup ported on its hub by a collar 84 for angular movement thereon, a lever 85, which lever, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1, has pivotally secured thereto at 86, a pawl 87, one arm of which engages the gear wheel 22 when the pawl is operated, and the other arm of which is connected with a rod 88 extending from the core 89 of a solenoid 90, which solenoid is supported by a bracket 91 from the shelf 11. A bracket 92 extending from the shelf 11, has secured thereto one end of each of the springs 93 and 94, the other ends of which are connected respectively with the pawl 87 and the lever 85. The bracket 92 carries stop pin 95 for limiting movement of the lever 85 underthe action of the spring 94,

and the lever 85 carries a stop pin 96 for li1niting movement of the pawl 87 under the action of the spring 93'. The spring 93 is preferablyweaker than the spring 94 so that enit to move the carriage to the right in Fig. 1,

to effect backspacing. 1 v

As shown in Fig. 1, the platen 18 has connected with it, a ratchet wheel 97 engaged by a pawl 98 carried by the short arm of a bell crank lever 99 pivotally mounted on the car'- riage 17 at 100. .One longer arm of the bell crank lever extends rearwardly from the carriage, beyond the tabulating bar 36 and to a position engaging the upper end' of a post 101 extending upwardly from the bracket 38.

when the carriage is moved to its right hand position, with the result that this engage ment moves the bell crank lever 99 to effect line, spacing of the .work being wrltten by the machine. Another longer arm of the" lever 99, is provided, which extends forwardly for manual operation, when desired.

As more clearlyshown in Fig. 3, the gear 22 meshes with a gear 102' secured to the up- .per end of a shaft 103mounted to rotatein a bearing carried by the shelf 11. The shaft 103 has rigidly securedto it below theshelf 11, a collar 104 between which and they shelf 11, a sleeve 105 is mounted on said shaft and free to rotate. The upper end of the sleeve 1.05 has rigidly secured to it a gear 106 meshing with a pinion 107 carried by the shaft of an electric motor 108 supported with its shaft in vertical position by a block 109 carried by the base of the machine. The sleeve also carries a commutator 110 having brushes 111 and 112 bearing thereon, which brushes are supported by and insulated from a plate 113 carried by the housing of the motor 108. The .commutator 110 is so constructed that its rotation alternately makes and breaks electrical connection between the brushes 111 and 112, at a rate depending upon the speed the shaft and extending through slots 117 in the clutch member. The lower end of the I clutch member 115, for the disengaged condition of the clutch members, rests on the up per end of a solenoid 118 supported by a plate 119 on brackets 120 extending upwardly from the base 10. The clutch member 115, which is preferably of non-magnetic material, has extending from its lower end, a rod 121 also of non-magnetic material, which connects at its lower end with the solenoid core 122 of magnetic material, which core extends below the lower end of the solenoid so that energization of the solenoid raises the core and the clutch member 115, to engage the -'clutch member 114 to rotate the shaft 103 and thereby the gear 102, to in turn rotate the gear 22 and move the carriage 17 to its right liand position in Fig. 1 to begin the next line of the printing. The clutch surface,

of the clutch member 115 may be faced with suitable material, for example leather, as indicated at 123, to cushion the shocks that might otherwise be imparted to the mechanism by the engagement of the clutch memthe detent and pawl are in different planes,-

the detent being in a plane above the pawl. The detent 124 is rigidly secured to the shelf 11 as indicated, and the pawl 125 is pivotally secured to said shelf at 126, said pawl being slotted at 127 to permit longitudinal movement of the pawl on its pivotal support, of an amount less than the pitch distance of the teeth 29a of the escape wheel 29. One end of the pawl 125 is connected with a pin 128 carried by the shelf 11, by a spring 129, which spring tends to move the pawl 125 to the left as far as its slot 127 will permit, and at the same time, tends to move the pawl into engagement with the teeth 29a, as far as a stop pin 130 carried by the shelf 11, will permit. As a result of the construction described, when the solenoid 31 is energized, which occurs at the same time that each of the solenoids 49 is energized, the escape wheel 29 is raised to release it from the pawl 125 and to effect engagement between one of the teeth 29a and the detent 124, without perceptible rotation of the wheel 29. This permits the spring129 to move the pawl 125 longitudinally on its pivot 126 to a position to engage the next tooth of theescape wheel. This condition continues until the opening of'the circuit through the printing solenoid 49, when the deenergization of the solenoid 31 permits the wheel 29 to drop by gravity to its position indicated in Fig. 2, from engagement with the detent 124, and into engagement with the pawl 125. The spring 129' permits the pawl to move on its pivot 126 by the action of the spring 24, in a manner to advance the a.

carriage one space. A further result of the construction described, is that when the wheel 29 is moved downwardly from its position shown in .Fig. 2, to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, it is free from the detent 124 andthe pawl 125, and therefore free to rotate with corresponding movement of the carriage, until one of the tabulating steps 37 strikes the stop 41 then in the path of the tabulating stops due to the energization of the solenoid 33.

'In Fig. 6, I illustrate the relation of the supporting plate 48 and the selective plates 58,59 and 60 to each other, as well as the relation of the brackets 47 to these plates. It will be noted that one of the solenoids 65 is adjacent each of the brackets 47 and that the same is true concerning the solenoids 70. which facilitates locating the stop pins 67 and brackets 61 illustrated in F ig. 2, as above described, and also affords two supports for each of the selective plates 58 and 59 to insure their proper location at all times.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, I prefer to construct each solenoid 49 of a tube 131 of nonmagnetic metal, for example brass, on which insulating heads 132 are rigidly secured to hold the winding 133 between them, the wind- I receive supporting plates 134 and outside of the plates, the tube has threaded on its ends nuts 135 and 136. A cylindrical core 52 of magnetic material, for example iron, is

tinued across the end of the tube and slotted to form a sliding fit on the bar 51. In this manner the bar is positively guided and prevented from turning, with the result that the corresponding type plate is held in proper position for operation as described above, since thesolenoids are assembled on the plate 48 with the slots. in the nuts 136 ex-' rying eccentricelugs 142 and 143 capable of being turned to engage or free the reels 138 and 139 respectively, as desired. Outside of the collars 140 and 141, a U-shaped frame comrising end members 144 and 145 and a cross ar 146 is mounted for turning movement on the shaft 19a. The bar 146 carries spirally .shaped guides 147 and 148 for changing the direction of the ribbons carried bythe reels 138 and 139, to direct the ribbons longitudinally along the printing line of, and adjacent to the surface of the platen 18a, as illustrated at 149 and 150. As shown for the guide 147 in Fig. 10, the guides have edge flanges restraining the ribbons from movement'out of the printing line, and pins. 147a and 14811 extend across the guides separating the ribbons from each other along the printing line,

facilitating feeding sheets of paper between them. 7 n

The shaft 19a is extended beyond the endmember 144 and has rigidly securedto. it a ratchet wheel 97a engaged by a pawl 98a operated by a bell crank lever 99a pivotally supported at 100afrom the carriage 17a, in substantially the manner that the ratchet wheel 97, pawl 98 and bell crank lever 99 are supported as above described and for the same purpose. The end'member 145 is extended adjacent to the corresponding ,wall of the carriage 17a, for engagement with a spring plunger 151 carried by the carriage, tending-t0 hold the u-shaped frame either with the ribbons 149 and 150 in printing position, or raised above printing position by rotation of the U-shaped frame around the shaft 19a, as desired. In operating this construction, the reels 138 and 139 may carry two ribbons, and assuming that the reel 139 is the supply reel, the lug 143 is turned so that the -.reel 139 will rotate freely on the shaft 19a. .At the same time, the lug 14.2 is turned to engage the reel 138 so that the reel 138 will rotate with the platen 1811. Since the ribbon guides 147 and 148 cannot rotate on account of the action of the plunger 151, rotation of the laten winds the ribbons on the reel 138 and rom the reel 139. When it is desired to reverse the direction of winding of the ribbons, the lug 143 is turned into engagement with the reel 139 and the lug 142 is turned from engagement with the reel 138. In using two or more ribbons, I- find it desirable to employ thin transparent or semi-transparent paper for the outermost copy, which sheet is placed outside of the ribbon 150; a heavy sheet of paper and one that is not transparent is placed between and then a heavy non-transparent sheet of paperis placed back of the ribbon 149 adjacent the platen 18a. In this manner each ribbon makes two copies, one on the back of a trans parent or send-transparent sheet, so that the written matter may be read through the sheet, and the other on heavier paper with the same effect that first copy work-is usually produced on atypewriting machine. Similar? 1y, more than two ribbons may be used, to produce a greater number of copies. Where only two copies are required, it is necessary to use but one of the ribbons 149 and 150 and the supplyreel 138 or 139 may be corresponding the paper between the ribbons, I find it desirable to move the ribbons from printing position, which may be effected by angularmovement-of the U-shaped frame upwardly around the platen, which carries the guides 2 147 and 148 with-it and permits the sheets of rollers so that their edges are in the printing line. In this position, the upper edges, of the ,sheetsmay be separated and the ribbons 149v and 150 maybe placed between them by moving the ,U-shaped frame downwardly. The spring plunger 151 affords a convenient means for holding the U-shaped frame'in either of its .positions described, and the cross bar 146 may be employed to hold the sheets of pa er against the platen and guide. them upwar y and rearwardlyafter they have been printed. 1

solenoids described, operating" the corresponding parts of the machine, I provide a keyboard including switching mechanism, as illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2. The keyboard and switching mechanism consists of a base plate 152 from which a plurality of stepped plates 153 extend vertically to support strips 154 of insulating material-as indicated. Each strip 154 has secured to it one end of each of a plurality of contact springs 155, to the other ingly woundwith a single ribbon. In insert- I To control the electrical circuits of the:

paper vto'be fed through the usual feeding.

endof which a key'156 is secured. [Each strip 154.- also carries beneath the contact springs 155 for the printing keys, electrical contacts 157 and 158, so that each contact-spring 155 makes electrical contact with both of the contacts 157 and 158beneath it, when the corre-f sponding key 156. is depressed. It willhe gization of the printing solenoids-49. This insures-that a selected one of the plates 58 and 59 will be operated in timeto engage the type plate which is actuated at that time.

In addition to the printing keys 156 and 156a referred to, the strips 154, as moreclear ly shown in Fig. 1, carry additional keys 159, 160 and 161 at the left hand side of'the keyboard and additional keys 162,163 and164 at the right hand side of the keyboard, which together with the space bar 165 at the front of the keyboard, may be called thecontrol keys of the machine, as distinguished from the printing keys, each of the printing keys serving to operate one of the solenoids 49 and also to selectively operate the solenoids or the solenoids 7 O when'the characters to be printed so require. The control keys 159-164 inclusive may control the energization respectively of the solenoids'90, a circuit efiecting repeated operation of the typewriter mechanism, the solenoids .12, the solenoid 33, the solenoid 118, and the solenoids 12, to respectively effect back spacing of the carriage, repeated operation of any part of the typewriting machine, shifting of the carriage, tabulation, the return of the carriage at the end'of a printed line, and shifting .of the carriage, there being purposely two carriage shifting keys 161 and 1 64 to make the operation of the keyboard convenient to the operator. The keys 159464 inclusive are mounted on contact springs 166-171 inclusive respectively, which are similar to the contact springs 155 of the printing keys. The spacing bar 165 is carried by two arms 172 pivotally supported on a rod173 extending through the vertical plates 153, the arms 172 being preferably connected by a cross bar 17 4 back of the rod 173 toatford a rigid support for the spacing bar 165. The base plate 152 supports a plate 175 of insulating material, below the spacing bar 165,, and the plate 17 5 in turn supports a contact spring 176 extend-.

ing under'the mid portion of the spacing bar 165 and in engagement therewith to hold said spacing bar in its upper position when it is not operated. The plate 17 5 also supports a instead of with two electrical contacts as bedescribed.

alternating current 1s depressed.- Each of the control keys 159 'to 164 inclusive is provided with a sin le electrical Contact similar to the contact 1 7,

contact springs and the electrical contacts connected therewith, control the energiza'- 'tion of the various solenoids in a manner to From the construction described, it will appear that the keyboard and electrical contact mechanism for operating the machine,

constitute a'unitary self-contained structure, and bearing in mind that the only'operating connection between this keyboard and contact structureas a whole, and the typewriting machine, consists of electrical conductors,.it will appear that the keyboard and con I tactmechanism as a whole may be given any desired location, eitherfon the'base 10 of the typewriting machine, or any other desired location separate from the machine. In Figs.

1 and 2 the keyboard and contact mechanism is illustrated as located on the front portion of the base 10 where it may beconveniently secured by screws 178.

' With the machine described, no devices are shown in connection with the platen 18, for handling and feeding the paper em loyed,

nor are'there devices shown for limiting the amount of rotary movement imparted to the platen by its operating pawl, since such devices are no art of the present invention, and may be of any kind known to the art.

- In Fig. '11 I illustrate diagrammatically the circuit connections I employ to operate the various solenoids by the keys described. In this figure, the keys 156 and 156a are,

shown in groups of three keys each, said groups being markedI, II and XIV, since each solenoid 49 is operated by'three keys to selectively print one ofthe three pairs of characters carried by the corresponding type plate 50 as above described. 7

Current may be supplied to the system by through a main switch 182 connected with the primary winding 183 of a transformer 184 having a low voltage secondary winding 185. The terminals of the. winding 185 are eed. wires 180 and 18 1 i connected with a direct current feed wire 186 and with oneterminal of a rectifier 187, the other terminal of which is connected with a second direct current feed wire 188. lVhere direct current is available, it will be understood that the direct current feed wires 186 and 188 may be supplied directly from the direct current source without the use of the transformer and rectifier.

the contact system and is connected with thecontact spring of each of the keys 156, 156a, 159 and 161-165 inclusive.

' a Thecontact 158 of the first key 156 in group I, is connected by wire 191 with the contacts 158 of the second and third keys of the same group, and this wire is connected by wire 192 with one terminal of one of the printing solenoids 49, the other terminal of which is connected with wire 193 extending to one terminal of the ribbon shifting solenoid 81, the otherterminal of which is connected by wire 194 with one terminal of the letter spacing solenoid31, the other terminal of which is connected by wire 195 with the brush 112 bearing on'the commutator 110. Theother brush 111 on the commutator 110 is connected with wire 188. ,The wire 188 is connected by a wire 196 with the contact 197 of the repeat key 160, the contact spring 167 of which is connected by wire 198 with wire 195. The contact 197 and contact s ring 167 are so related that the contact an contact spring are in engagement with each other to electrically connect the brushes 111 and 112, excepting at such times as the repeat key 160 is depressed. From the circuit just traced, it will appear that depressing either of the keys 156 or the key 156a of group I, will complete a circuit from the wire 190 through the corresponding printing solenoid 49 to wire188 and thus energize said solenoid 49.

The contact 157 of the first key 156 of group I. is connected by wire 199 with one terminal of each of the solenoids 65, the other terminals of which are connected together and with wire 193. The contact 157 of the other key 156 of group I, is connected by wire 200 with one terminal of eachof the solenoids 7 0. the other terminals of which are connected together and are also connected by Wire 20Lwith wire 193. As a result of the connections justdescribed, when the first key 156 of group I is depressed, current flows from the wire 190 through the solenoids 65, in addition to the current flow which occurs immediately afterwards" through the corresponding solenoid 49.. On the-other hand, if the key 156a of group I is depressed, current is caused to flow through the solenoid 49 since this key is provided with a contact 158, but there is then no current flowthrough' eitherthe solenoids 65 or the solenoids 70. Again, if the other key 156 of group I is depressed, the solenoids 7O are energized just before the corresponding solenoid 49 is energized. This provides for the selective operation of the corresponding type plate 50 in the manner described.

A wire 202 is connected with wire 199 and a wire'203 is connected, with .the wire 200' and these wires 202 and 203 extend through the keyboard for connection with the contacts of the other groups of'keys, in the same manner described for the keys of group I, as a result of which depressing the first key of any other part of each of its rotations.

energization of the solenoid 49 corresponding to the group of keys then actuated, depressing the second key of said group serves to energize the said solenoid 49 without energizing the solenoids and 70, and depressing the third key of said grpup, serves to energize the solenoids 7 0 just before the corresponding solenoid 49 is energized. In this way but two solenoids 65 and but two solenoids are required for each machine, and one solenoid 49 is required for each group of three printing eys.

It will'be understood that in Fig. 11 for the sake of clearness, groups .111 to XIII are omitted, since each of these groups is identical as to its connections with the wires 190, 202, 203 and 193, with the connections shown for group XIV of the printing keys. -It will be observed that when any printing key is depressed and a corresponding printing solenoid is energized, the ribbon shifting solenoid 81 and the letter spacing solenoid 31 are also energized, as a result of which the ribbon is brought into printing position, and at the end of the printing operation, the carriage-17 is moved one step for letter spacing, b the es,- capement mechanism as above descri ed.

It will be observed that the path of the current flow from the wire 195 tothe wire 188 is through wire 198, contact spring 167 and contact 197 of the repeat key 160, to wire 196 con nected with wire- 188. This provides that with the repeat key 160 in its u permost position, the solenoids energized y the depression of any one of the printing keys, will re- A main energizedas long as the corresponding key 1s de ressed. It sometimes occurs that it is desira le," articularly in connection with some of the e aracters or marks provided on the type plates, to have the character repeated, for example in making a dotted line. This may beefi'ectively done by depressing the traced, with the excep 112, commutator 110 and brush 111. As indicated in Fig. 11, the commutator 110 is related to the brushes 111 and 112 so that the brushes are electrically connected by a part of each rotation of the commutator, and that theyare insulated from each other for an- 7 This serves to alternately connect the wires 195 and 18 8 electrically and to disconnect them, which operation is repeated as long as the repeat key 160 is depressed. For this condition, even if the selected printing key is held in its depressed position, the effect is the same as though the printing key were operated a number of times in rapid succession without the presence of the repeat keyin the system.

The keys 161' and 164 have their contacts 206 connected by wire 204 which also connects with one terminal of eachof the soleby wire 207 with one terminal of the solenoid 33, the other terminal of which is connected by wire 208 with the wire 205. The contact spring 169 of the key 162 is connected. with wire. 190. In this way, operation of the tabuiating key 162 energizes the solenoid 33 by closing a path for current'flowfrom'the wire 190 through the solenoid towire 188.

The contact 212 of the key 163 is connected by. wire 210 with one terminal of the solenoid. 1.18, the other terminahof which is connected by. wire 211 with the wire 208 and thuswith wire 205 and in turn with wire 188. The contact spring 170 ofthe key 163 is connected with wire 190 and thus operation of the car 1 riage return key 163 closes a path for current flow from the wire 190 through the solenoid 118 to the wir'e 188. Since the tabulating operation efiected by the solenoid '33, andv the carriage return at the end of each prmting v line, efiected by the solenoid 118, in themanner above described, are single operations which are not required to be repeated rapidly, the current path for these solenoids is' shown through the wire 205 to the direct cur-' rent feed wire 188, instead of to the wire 195 and through the brushes 111 and 112.

The contact 177 'of the key 165 is connected by wire 213 with wire 194, and the contact spring 176 of said key is connected with wire 190. In this manner, by depressin the spacing key 165,vcurrent is caused to fi bw directly from wire 190 to the wire 194 and thus through the solenoid 31' and the path already traced, to the wire 188, to effect letter. spacin when the type plates are not 0 erated. t will be noted, that this may pr uce either a single spacing movement of the carriage 17, or successive movements while the key 165 is held in depressed conditlon, depending upon whether the repeat key 160 is in its upperor operated osition:

The contact 216 of the my 159 is connected by wire 214 with one terminal of'solenoid 90,

the other terminal of which is connected by wire215 with wire 195. The contact spring 166 of the key 159 is connected with wire 190, from which it will be observed that depressing the back-spacing key 159 causes current leaders flow through the solenoidQO-to the wire 195 and through the path above traced to wire 188, thus efl'ectin a single operation of the back spacing mec anism, or'repeated operations thereof with the key 159 held in its depressed position,*depending upon whether switch 221, the contact of which, is connected by wire 22.2.)Yith wire'186. In this manner the circuit throu 'h the motor 108 may be closed and opene as desired by the switch 221 and the speed-of the motor may be contmlled' by the rheostat219. For the constructionshown, the motor 108 is in .continuousoperation when the typewriting machine'i's being used, so when the main switch 182 is closed to supply current to-the circuits of the machine, the switch 221 is also closed to' insure, that themotor 108 will be running when it is required to either return .thecarriage at the end of a printed line, or

to make and break the circuit through selected solenoids by means of the commutator 110 and thebrushes 111 and 112.

Therheostat 189 rovides a convenient means for adjusting t e voltage on the several circuits to insure the proper current flow through the several solenoids to effectively operate them. It will be noted that fixed condensers are shown connected across the contacts ofthe several keys. This I find desirable to avoid sparking when the circuits are opened by movement ofthe key contact springs. 'It will be noted that at certain 'unctions of the circuit wirin short ranches are indicated. These indlcate the places in the wiring where branch leads may be taken from the keyboard mechanism to extend to similar arrangements of solenoids and operatin circuits, since it will be observedthat t e same keyboard mechanism may be emplo ed to simultaneously operate a lurality o typewriting machines, provi ed circuit connections are-extended from 115 the keyboard mechanism to each one of the typewriting machines in the manner described above for the connection of the solenoids described, provided that the several typewriting machines have similar operating solenoids similarly connected electrically to accomplish similar results.

While I have 'shownmy invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that I do'notlimitmyself to this exact construction as I may employ eguivalents known to the art at the time o the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying a plurality of pairs of printing characters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively with said plates to move them to printing position, devices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connection to print one of a desired pair of said characters carried by it and so selected, and electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combina- 1 tion of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying a plurality of pairs of printing characters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively with said plates to move them, to printing position, devices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connection to print one of a desired pair of said characters carried by it and so selected, electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them, a carriage supporting said platen and movable vertically to print a desired one of the pair of characters so selected, and electric solenoid mechanism connectedwith said carriage to move it vertically. 3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying a plurality of pairs of printing characters, bars having straight line movecharacters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively with said plates to move them to printing position, devices for selectively turningan operated plate on its said pivotal connection to print one of a desired pair of said characters carried by it and so selected, and electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them,said devices comprising a plurality of members eachefiective to control said selective movement of all of said type plates, and electric solenoid mechanism operating said selective devices.

- 5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type plate carrying a plurality of printing characters, first electric solenoid mechanism connected with said plate to move it towards its printing position to print a first character, second electric solenoid mechanism controlling the relation of said plate to said first solenoid mechanism to print. a second and different character, a source'of current, a

first key having contacts and circuit connections including said source and extendlng only to said first solenoid mechanism to ac tuate it, and a secondkey having contacts and circuit connections including said source and extending to .both of said'solenoid mechanisms to actuate them.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a type plate carrying a pluralityof printing characters, first electric solenoid mechanismconnected with said plate to move I it towards its printing position to print a first character, second electric solenoid mechanism controlling the relation of said plate to said first solenoid mechanism to print a second and difierent character, third electric solenoid, mechanism controlling the relation of said plate, to said first solenoid mechanism to print a third and still diflt'erent char acter, a source of current, a first key having contacts and circuit connections including said source and extending only to said-first solenoid mechanism to actuate it, a second key having contacts and circuit connections including said source and extending to said first and said second solenoid mechanisms to actuate them, and a third key havingcontacts and circuit connections including said source and extending to said first and said third solenoid mechanisms to actuate them.

7 In a typewriting machine, the coml tion of a platen, a plurality of type t Lt each carrying aplurality of printing chai arters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively. with said lates tomove them to printing position, evices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connection to print one of said characters carried by it and so selected, and electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them.

,8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying a plurality of printing characters,

bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively with said plates 7 to move them to printing position, devices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connection to print one of said characters carried by it and so selected, and

electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them, said devices comprising a plurality of members each effective to control said selective movement of all of said type plates.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying a plurality of printing charac tors, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively with said plates to move them to printing position, de-

vices for selectively turning an operated plateselective devices.' p 1 10. Inatypewriting machlne, the combination of a platen, aplurality of type plates each carryin a plurality of pairs of printing char acters, ars having straight hne movement and pivotally connected respectively withsaid plates to move them to printingposition, devices for selectively turning an operated plate onits said pivotal connection to print one of a' desiredpair of said characters carried by it and so selected, and electric solenoid mecha- 'nisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them,'each of said solenoid mechanisms including a structure holding the corresponding type plate in substantia ly a fixed plane throughout its movement.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a type plate carrying a printinw character, a bar pivotally connected. with said plate to move said character to printin position on said platen, a device engaging an turning said plate on said bar during printing movement of said plate, and electric solenoid mechanism connected with said bar toturning movement. a g g 13. In a typewriting machine, the combina-' operate it, said solenoid mechanism including a structure holdin said-type plate in sub stantially a fixed p ane throughout its movement. I c a I 12. In a typewriting'machine, the combination of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying aplurality of pairs of printing characters,-bars having straight line movement and, pivotally connected respectively with said plates to move them-to printing position, devices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connectionto print one of a desired pair of saidchar'acters carried by it and so selected, and electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them, each of said solenoid'mechan'isms' including a structure restraining'the corresponding bar from axial tion of a platen, a type plate carrying a print ing character, a bar pivotally connected with said plate to move said characterto printing position on said platen, a device engaging and turning said plate on said bar during print ing movement of said plate, and electric solenoid mechanism connected with said bar to operate it, said solenoid mechanism including a structure restraining said bar from axial turning movement.

14. In a 'typewritin machine, the combination of aplaten, a plurality of type plates each carrying a plurality of pairs of printing characters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively with said plates-to-move them to printing position, devices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connection to print one of a desired pair of said characters carried by it and so selected, and elec? tric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars to operate them, said bars being flat sided, and each of said solenoid mechanisms-including a structure en agin the corresponding bar with a sliding t an restraining it from axial turning movement.

1 5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a'type plate carryinga withsaid plate to move said character to electric solenoid mechanism connected with during printing movement of said plate, and

said bar to operate it, said bar being flat sided, and said solenoid mechanism includlng a structure engaging said bar with a sliding fit and restraimng it from axial turnmg movementr;

16. In a typewriting machine the combinat1on of a platen, a plurality oi type plates each carrying a plurality of pairs of printing characters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectlvely withsaid plates to move them to printing position, devices for selectively turning anoperated plate on its said pivotal connectionto printone of a desired pair of said characters carried by it and so selected, electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected-with said bars to operate them, and means holding said type plates in substantially fixed planes throughout their movement.

17. In a typewritlng machine the combination of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying aplura ity of pairs ofxprlnting characters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively with said plates to move them to printing position, devices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connection 'to' print one of a desired pair of said oharactersparried by it and so selected, electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected with said bars. to operate them, and means restraining said bars from axial turning movement. v a c In a typewriting machine, the combinatlon of a platen, a plurality of type plates each carrying a plurality of pairs of printing characters, bars having straight line movement and pivotally connected respectively wlth said plates to move them to printing 85 printmg character,abar plvotally connected position, devices for selectively turning an operated plate on its said pivotal connection to print one of a desired pair of said characters carried by it and so selected, electric solenoid mechanisms respectively connected my name this 14th day of September, A. D. 1929.

ELIAS H. HENDERSON. 

